Northern Beaches May 24, 2012
Korin Bennett with a gaffer dolphin she caught while trolling the Gulf Stream of Oregon Inlet with Capt. Ned Ashby on the "Sea Breeze." The 'phin fell for a skirted ballyhoo.
Seth, of TW’s Tackle, reports that before last week’s weather, anglers found some excellent action with bluefish and bottom feeders like sea mullet, croaker, spot, and more off the local piers and in the surf. Most of the bottom fish are falling for shrimp on double-hook rigs, and the bluefish are taking an interest in both bottom baits and metal jigs worked from the pier.
The action slowed down a bit with the winds, but as the water settles down, it should be back on track.
Some speckled trout have also been joining the pier catch, with soft plastics the most productive baits.
The trout bite has also been excellent all over the sound lately, with some of the best action around the little bridge and Manns Harbor bridge. Gulp baits and other soft plastics have been producing the lion’s share of the trout in the sound as well.
Some flounder are starting to feed around Oregon Inlet, where anglers are tempting them to bite soft plastics and small live baits.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are rewarding anglers trolling small spoons and other lures around and just off Oregon Inlet.
Cobia are beginning to make an appearance off Oregon Inlet, and anglers are hooking a few while sight-casting to fish they see cruising around the inlet and along the beaches.
Offshore, boats are putting together excellent catches of yellowfin tuna while trolling to the east of Oregon Inlet. The gaffer dolphin bite has been on further to the south around the Point, and some billfish are mixed in with the tuna and dolphin. Ballyhoo under skirted trolling lures are fooling most of the blue water fish.
Mike, of Jennette’s Pier, reports that anglers are picking up some spot, sea mullet, pigfish croakers, and (of course) skates and dogfish while bottom fishing with shrimp, squid, and other baits.
Those casting metal jigs are connecting with some bluefish and speckled and gray trout when the conditions are right (lower winds and seas and clearer water).
Rick Rogers and Chris Crockett, both fishing instructors at Jennette's Pier, with a pair of chopper bluefish they hooked on metal jigs.
Denis, of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, reports that yellowfin tuna and gaffer dolphin are competing to be the stars of the show for boats trolling ballyhoo in the blue water off the inlet. Most days are producing excellent catches of both. Some scattered wahoo have been in the mix, and boats also released a few sailfish and blue marlin last week.
Nearshore boats are putting together good catches of bluefish while trolling small spoons. Spanish mackerel and false albacore have been mixed in.
Inshore, the speckled trout bite has been solid in the sound and around the inlet.
Dave, of Skiligal Sportfishing, reports that the yellowfin tuna bite has been excellent lately, with the fish moving a bit further north and plenty of bites in the 30 mile range east of Oregon Inlet.
Gaffer dolphin and some wahoo (including an 80 lb. fish) have been mixed in to the east and down south around the Point in recent days.
Ballyhoo trolled beneath sea witches and other skirted trolling lures are producing most of the fish.
Keith, of Corolla Bait and Tackle, reports that surf casters on the northern beaches are connecting with bluefish (some 6-7 lbs.), sea mullet, croaker, and gray and speckled trout. Shrimp and cut baits are fooling the fish in the breakers.
Trolling small spoons around Oregon Inlet has been producing plenty of action with bluefish and some spanish mackerel.
Speckled trout, flounder, sea mullet, and some puppy drum are feeding in and around Oregon Inlet, and anglers are hooking them on soft plastic baits and bottom rigs.
Offshore, the dolphin bite has been excellent to the south in the 400’s area, and boats are hooking big numbers of yellowfin tuna east of Oregon Inlet in the 700’s. Trolled ballyhoo are tempting bites from both.
